Query: I qualified as a veteran through the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Surprisingly, some veterans who were trained as PLAN fighters receive an additional N$4 000 on top of the monthly N$2 200 they are already receiving. That money is apparently only given to veterans, who received military training in the Swapo camps. This is discrimination.
Response: Cabinet took a decision to increase the monthly subvention of Ex-PLAN combatant veterans, who were militarily trained at various Swapo military training centres abroad and were deployed to the frontline with an additional amount ranging from N$3000, N$4000 and N$5000 respectively, depending on the years when these combatant veterans were deployed at the front. These additional benefits are referred to as the Monthly Improvement Benefits and are only limited to Ex-PLAN combatants, including former Robben Island and Kai //Ganaxab political prisoners. Furthermore, it should be noted that the improvement benefits are exclusively given to Ex-PLAN combatant veterans, who are either unemployed or if employed, earn a monthly salary of less than N$3000.
Query: Mr President, what exactly is happening at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs? It seems the operations have come to a complete standstill. We, the veterans, did not get funding for our projects and some of us are already on pension. Come to our rescue. We are getting old. I am sure you would agree that it would be unfair for us to die without enjoying our rewards.
Response: The operations at Veterans Affairs have not come to a standstill and the ministry continues to serve the interests of the veterans of the National Liberation Struggle as mandated. Veterans Affairs receives thousands of applications for Individual Veterans Projects (IVP’s) each year. Unfortunately, the applications far outweigh the yearly budget earmarked towards the funding of IVP’s. In addition, Veterans Affairs takes seriously the concerns of aging veterans regarding the time it takes in approving and funding IVP’s, hence a decision was taken to prioritise the approval and funding of IVP’s of veterans aged 60 years and above.
Query: There is a very big problem with the employees of the veterans affairs ministry. Mr President, Prime Minister and Vice-President, your management is believed to be untouchable. They are not working in the interest of the war veterans, but for their own benefit. They favour some people, while others have to wait forever for their money and projects to be approved. What is going on there?
Response: Veterans Affairs conducts its business in a transparent manner. In case of any favouritism detected among any of our staff members, the sender of this complaint is requested and encouraged to report any incidences of favouritism to the Office of the Permanent Secretary. As far as Veterans Affairs is concerned, such social ills are destroying and hampering government efforts at service delivery and the ministry takes this opportunity to reiterate that no staff member is untouchable. Those found flaunting the law will be severely dealt with.
Edson Haufiku, senior public relations officer, Veterans Affairs: Office of the Vice President. Email: edson.haufiku@mova.gov.na